Safety match books



0 1956 T. WILL 2,765,072

SAFETY MATCH BOOKS Filed Sept. '7, 1954 IN V EN TOR. TH BOD ORE WILL I United States Patent Of ice SAFETY MATCH BOOKS Theodore Will, Hollis, N. Y., assignor to Fund-Del Inc., Syosset, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 7, 1954, Serial No. 454,390

1 Claim. (Cl. 206-29) This invention relates to an improved match book having incorporated therein a desirable safety feature, to lessen the possibility of all the matches in the book igniting accidentally while the book is held in ones hand.

It is well known among smokers that a match book will, sometimes, explode into flame accidentally, when a match is struck on the provided abrasive surface of the book. For this reason, match books in general use today have imprinted, adjacent the abrasive surface, a caution that the cover should be closed before a match is struck. With the cover closed, the danger of a spark flying and accidentally igniting all the matches in the book simultaneously is considerably reduced.

However, despite the precautions set forth on the match book cover, users thereof often carelessly strike a match while the cover is open, causing igniting of the entire match book, sometimes with painful and dangerous results so far as the user is concerned.

One important object of the present invention, accordingly, is to so design a match book as to insure that the matches remaining in the book are protectively covered at all times, even when the conventional match book cover is left open during the striking of a match.

Another object of importance is to provide a construction as stated wherein the means for protectively covering the unused matches at all times may itself be adapted to bear an advertising legend, thus to increase the advertising space provided upon the match book, with the additional space being conspicuously located so as to be directly before the eyes of the viewer when the ordinry match book cover is opened.

Yet another object of importance is to provide a match book cover of the character referred to wherein the protective cover that overlies the matches can be yieldably and resiliently sprung outwardly from its matchcovering relation, to expose the matches and thereby permit a match to be torn off preliminary to striking of the same.

Yet another object of importance is to provide a construction as described wherein the supplemental matchcover means can be incorporated in a generally conventional match book without a substantial increase in manufacturing cost.

A further object is to provide, in at least one form of the invention, side tabs carried by the supplemental match-cover panel, so as to not only cover the front of the cards of matches, but also the sides of the match heads disposed at the ends of said cards. In this way, it is proposed to further minimize the possibility of accidental exploding of the matches, to prevent sparks from flying against the match heads from the side. It sometimes happens that even when a match book cover is closed, the book may be carelessly held by the user in such a way that this last occurrence may take place.

Yet another object is to provide, in another form of the invention, tearable means removable from the conventional match book cover to separate said cover at the 2,765,072 Patented oet. 2, 1956 top of the match book for removal of matches whenever desired, the cover being otherwise stapled in closed position. In this way, it is proposed, without adding a supplemental panel to the construction, to still insure that in every instance, the match heads will be protectively covered when a match is being struck.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a match book formed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the dotted lines showing the position of the parts when the match is to be removed.

Fig. 3 is an exploded, edge elevational view of the book.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form, the cover being open.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second modification.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the form of Fig. 6, with the tearable means removed.

The reference numeral 10 has been applied generally in Figs. 1-3 to designate a match book formed in accordance with the present invention. The match book includes a conventional cover comprising a rectangular back panel 12 and a rectangular front panel 14 shorter in length than the back panel, said panels being integrally connected at their upper ends by a relatively narrow top panel 16. At its lower ends, the back panel 12 is integral with a forwardly and upwardly turned lip 18, the outer surface of which is coated with a suitable abrasive. Enclosed betweenthe lip and back panel are superposed, like match cards 20, each of which is composed of a base extending transversely of the book and an upstanding series of matches integral with said base;

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a supplementary cover panel 22, that overlies the front of the upstanding matches. Panel 22, like the match cover 12, is formed of cardboard, and at its upper end, the panel 22 is integral with a rearwardly turned, relatively narrow top flap 24, the width of which is slightly less than the width of the top panel 16.

The panel 22 is positioned against the inner surface of the cover or front panel 14 of the cover, the panel 22 being, however, slightly longer than the cover 14, so as to extend substantially to the bottom edge of the lip 18. A staple 26 is then extended through the lip, the lower end portion of the supplementary panel 22, the match cards 20, and the back panel 12. The cover panel 14 of the match book is not stapled, and in accordance with conventional construction is merely engaged in back of the upper edge of the lip 18 as shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

The top flap 24 underlies and is in contact with the top panel 16 of the cover and, accordingly, extends over the several match heads.

In use of the match book, the front panel 14 is flipped upwardly in the usual manner, to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. Then, the supplementary panel 22 is sprung outwardly to the Fig. 2 dotted line position, to expose the matches. A match is then removed, and the front panel, being now released, will by reason of its inherent resiliency spring back to the full line position of Fig. 2. The removed match is now struck against the lip, and it will be noted that even with the front panel 14 3 remaining in its open position, the unused matches will all be protectively covered by the supplementary panel 22 and the top flap 24 comprising a part of said supplementary panel.

In the form of Figs. 4 and 5, the book is identical to that of Figs. 1-3, except for the fact that the modified book 10 has a supplementary panel 22 formed with a top flap 24 the ends of which are integral with downwardly turned, relatively short tabs or ears 28. The ears 28 overlie the opposite ends of the rows of matches, to prevent sparks from flying in through the side of the match book against the unused matches.

In the form of Figs. 6 and 7, the modified match book 10 does not have a supplementary panel 22 or 22. In this form, the match book has a cover-including a back panel 12 a front panel 14 and a top panel 16 integral with and connecting said back and front panels. A lip l8 on the lower end of the back panel is folded forwardly and upwardly, and a staple 26 extends through said lip and back panel, and also through the bases of superposed match cards 20.

Formed in the top panel 16 are perforations 30. These are arranged in two side-by-side, arcuate, oppositely bowed rows, said rows being closest to one another at their crest portions medially between the ends of the top flap, the rows diverging from the midlength point of said top flap in the direction of either end. The rows of perforations 30 define between them a removable strip 32 extending the full length of the top flap, between the opposite longitudinal edges of said top flap. At its opposite ends, strip 32 is formed with downwardly extending tabs or ears 34. p

The match book will initially be disposed in the form shown in Fig. 6, and it is important to note that in this arrangement, the lower end of the front panel 14 of the cover is stapled to the lip, match card, and back panel, and cannot be flipped upwardly from behind the lip 18*. Therefore, the front panel 14 will always protectively cover the fronts of the matches.

When the first match is to he removed from the book, one of the tabs 34 is grasped, and is pulled upwardly. As a result, the strip 32 is torn away as shown in Fig. 7, along the rows of perforations 3'0, and is completely re-' moved. This separates the front and back panels 14, 12 respectively, and accordingly, the front panel can be pulled forwardly in the direction shown in Fig. 7, to expose the match heads and thereby permit removal of a selected match. When the'match is removed, the inherent resiliency of the front panel will cause the same to spring back into its Fig. 7 position. The match is then struck, without danger of igniting the remaining matches.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A match book comprising a back panel, an upwardly and forwardly folded lip on the lower end of said back panel, at least one card of matches disposed between the lip and back panel, fastener means extending through the lip, card, and back panel, and a panel in front of and covering said card, said front and back panels beingv adapted to be separated at their upper ends to permit removal of matches disposed therebetween, said match book further including a cover panel overlying the front panel, and a top panel extending between and integrally connecting the cover panel and upper panel, said top panel having spaced rows of perforations, from end to end thereof to facilitate removal of a portion of the top panel defined between the perforations, thereby to separate the back panel and cover panel at their upper ends, the portion of the top panel between said perforations constituting a removal strip, said strip including integral depending tabs at its ends to facilitate removal of the strip and to protect the matches. 

